ITALIAN NEWS - Issue # 6, June 2008

Italian News
Periodical On-Line that Promotes, Supports, Spreads ITALY,
and ITALIAN Language, History, Culture, Tradition, Genealogy,
Articles, Products, Services, Every Aspect of ITALIAN Life Style
by THE ITALIAN PROJECT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italian Regions

CAMPANIA

Official Website: www.regione.campania.it

Campania is a region celebrated for its climate, the fertility
of the lands and the astonishingly beautiful landscapes.
The territory is mostly gentle hills, apart from the Matese
mountains bordering Molise and the rugged Irpinia area.
The Vesuvius on the Gulf of Naples is one of the very few
still active volcanoes in Europe. The two beautiful gulfs of
Naples and Salerno with the Amalfi coast, separated by the
Sorrento peninsula, are world famous for the high cliffs,
sandy bays, grottoes and islands (Ischia, Procida, Capri),
each view an enchanting postcard picture, and such a
great experience for the senses, the feel of the air, the
odours of the pine trees, lemons and oranges, that the
ancients rightly called this region "felix ager", a happy land.

The Provinces of Campania
Province of Napoli (NA) | Province of Avellino (AV) |
Province of Benevento (BN) | Province of Caserta (CE) |
Province of Salerno (SA)

Population
The population, over 5,700,000 inhabitants, in 551
municipalities, is concentrated around Naples and Salerno,
while the mountainous hinterland is very low populated.
Agriculture is mostly intensive, cattle raising and fishing
are declining, industries are mostly concentrated in the
Neapolitan area, and crafts based on coral and ceramics
are still quite important. But the greatest resource is
probably tourism, since Naples, Capri, Sorrento, Pompei,
Paestum, Positano, Amalfi, Caserta and its Royal Palace -
just to mention a very few - are world-famous destinations.

History
Originally inhabited by the Ausoni (or Aurunci) and Opici, In
the 8th century BC the region was colonized by the Greeks
who founded the city of Cuma. In the 6th century BC the
Etruscans established around Capua a federation of twelve
towns, which fought and defeated the Greeks in 524 and
474 BC. Then in the 5th century BC both Capua and Cuma
were conquered by the warlike Samnites. Between 343
and 290 BC three wars were fought between Samnites and
Romans, who finally occupied the region. Rich Roman
families built villas and gardens in the beautiful Neapolitan
Gulf, until the ominous Vesuvius eruption in 89 AD covered
in lava the Roman cities of Pompei and Ercolanus.

After the fall of the Roman Empire Campania was
alternatively under the Goths and the Byzanthines, then it
was conquered by the Lombards in 570 AD who
established here the Dukedom of Benevento, while Amalfi
became a rich independent sea trade center. In 1139 the
region was conquered by the Normans, then became part
of the Kingdom of Sicily under the Anjou (13th century) and
Aragonese (15th century). The Spaniards (1503-1707) were
followed by the Austrians (1707 to 1734) until Charles VII
Bourbon (1734) became King of Naples.

After the unity to Italy in 1860 there arose serious economic
problems, among them a tragical cholera epidemic in 1884,
events which started a massive exodus of the population
to the North of Italy and abroad. During WW2 the Allied
Anglo-American forces landed at on 9 September 1943 and
the bombings that followed, as well as the destruction
caused by the retreating Germans caused innumerable
victims among the population.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italian Genealogy

HOW TO FIND Places of your Ancestors
and Living Relatives in ITALY

Here are Step-by-Step, Detailed, and Useful Suggestions:

1- Go to PAGINE BIANCHE.it Web Site, by clicking HERE.

2- In the "Cognome o nome Azienda" box, Write the Family
Name, or the Last Name of your Ancestors, and of your
Living Relatives in ITALY.

3- In the "Nome" box, Write the First Name of your
Ancestors, and of your Living Relatives in ITALY, or Leave
it Blank, if you are Looking for the Family Name in ITALY.

4- In the "Dove" box, Write the Name of the Birth Town, or
Province, or Region of your Ancestors, and of your Living
Relatives in ITALY.

5- Click on the button "Cerca": a List of Persons with that
Family Name, with their full names, addresses, and
telephone numbers will appear!

6- Save, and/or Print their full names, addresses, and
telephone numbers, and Towns, and/or Provinces that you
have found, where they are living in ITALY!

They are your "Potential" Living Relatives, and the
"Potential" Towns, and/or Provinces of Birth of your
Ancestors in ITALY!

7- Then, click on the LINKS here below, to Know HOW TO
OBTAIN Information and Extracts, Acts, Certificates of your
ITALIAN Ancestors, and/or HOW TO CONTACT your Living
Relatives in ITALY!

H OW TO OBTAIN Information and
Documents of your Ancestors in ITALY

H OW TO CONTACT your Living Relatives
in ITALY

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italian Recipes

Tortellini with Garlic Sage Butter Sauce

Ingredients
6 tablespoons butter
6 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 pound fresh or frozen meat-filled tortellini
2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley

Cooking Directions
In a medium frying pan, melt the butter over low heat. Add
the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally and mashing the
garlic with the back of a wooden spoon, until it is soft and
golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the sage, salt, and pepper.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the tortellini until
just done, about 4 minutes for fresh and 12 minutes for
frozen. Drain the pasta and return to the pot.
Add the butter and parsley and toss over low heat until the
pasta is thoroughly coated with the butter, about 1 minute.
Yield: 4 servings

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italian Companies

Ducati

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A
Type: Public (Borsa Italiana:DMH)
Founded: 1926
Founder: Bruno Cavalieri Ducati
Adriano Ducati
Marcello Ducati
Headquarters: Bologna, Italy
Giampiero Paoli (Chairman)
Gabriele Del Torchio (CEO)
Industry: Motorcycle Manufacturer
Products: Motorcycles
Revenue: ▲€ 304.7 million (2007)
Net income: ▲€ 13.2 million (2007)
Employees: 1,142 (2007)
Subsidiaries: Ducati Corse (MotoGP and SBK Superbike racing)
Official Website: www.ducati.com

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A (Borsa Italiana:DMH) is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer located in Bologna, Italy.

Ducati Mach 1

From their first post-Second World War bicycle-like low-displacement motorbikes Ducati has gained prominence in
motorcycle racing and in the motorcycle industry.

In the 1960s, Ducati earned its place in motorcycling history by producing the then fastest 250 cc road bike available, the
Mach 1. In the 1970s Ducati began producing large-displacement L-twin (i.e. a 90° V-twin) motorcycles and in 1973
released an L-twin with the trademarked desmodromic valve design. In 1985, Cagiva bought Ducati and planned to
rebadge Ducati motorcycles with the lesser-known Cagiva name (at least outside of Italy). By the time the purchase was
completed, Cagiva kept the "Ducati" name on its motorcycles. In 1996, Texas Pacific Group bought a 51% stake in the
company for US$325 million then in 1998, bought most of the remaining 49% to become the sole owner of Ducati. In 1999,
TPG issued an IPO of Ducati stock and renamed the company Ducati Motor Holding SpA. TPG sold over 65% of its shares
in Ducati, leaving TPG the majority shareholder. In December 2005 Ducati returned to Italian ownership with the sale of
Texas Pacific's stake (minus one share) to Investindustrial Holdings, the investment fund of Carlo and Andrea Bonomi.

Company History

Ownership
(1950 - 1967) Government IRI management years (In 1953 split into Ducati Meccanica, and Ducati Elettronica, now called
Ducati Energia SpA)
(1967 - 78) Government EFIM management (control over day-to-day factory operations)
(1967 - 73) Headed By Montano
(1973 - 78) Headed by De Eccher
(1978 - 85) Subsidiary of state-subsidized VM Group
(1985 - 1996) Cagiva Group ownership
(1996 - 2005) Texas-Pacific Group ownership and going public
Headed by CEO Federico Minoli, 1996-2001; returning for 2003-2007
(2005 - present) Investindustrial Holdings: Back in Italian Hands

Beginnings
In 1926, three brothers Adriano, Marcello and Bruno Ducati founded Societa Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati in Bologna.
The company produced tubes, condensers and other radio components. The cornerstone of a new factory in Borgo
Panigale was laid in 1935. During the war, the factory was a target for Allied bombing. Although badly hit more than once,
production was maintained. About this time Aldo Farinelli began working with the small Turinese firm SIATA (Societa
Italiana per Applicazioni Tecniche Auto-Aviatorie) with the idea of developing a small engine that could be mounted on a
bicycle. The noise of the engine's short stubby exhaust inspired the name "Cucciolo" (Italian: "little puppy"). Barely one
month after the official liberation of Italy, SIATA announced their intention to sell Cucciolo engines to the public; it was the
first new automotive design to appear in postwar Europe. The first Cucciolos were available only as a motor to be
attached by the owner to a normal bicycle. Some businessmen bought the little engines in quantity, installed them in
frames and offered these complete units for sale.

By 1950, with 200,000 Cucciolos already sold, Ducati finally offered its own complete motorcycle based on the successful
little pushrod engine. The collaboration with SIATA resulted in a well designed little 60 cc bike. This first Ducati motorcycle
weighed 98 pounds and had a top speed of 40 mph (64 km/h). Its 15 mm carburetor gave a little under 200 mpg (85 km/L).
In the 1950s, Ducati officially dropped the "Cucciolo" name, replacing it with "55M" or "65TL".

The market was moving towards bigger motorcycles though, and Ducati's IRI management felt diversification was the only
answer. Ducati made an impression at the early 1952 Milan Show, introducing the Ducati 65 TS cycle and the Cruiser, a
four-stroke motor scooter. Despite being described as the most interesting new machine at the 1952 show, the Cruiser
was not a great success. A couple thousand were made over a two year period before being withdrawn from production.

In 1953, management decided to split the operation into two separate entities, Ducati Meccanica SpA, and Ducati
Elettronica, under separate management. (Ducati Elettronica became Ducati Energia SpA in the eighties.)

Dr. Giuseppe Montano took over as head of Ducati Meccanica SpA and the old Borgo Panigale factory was modernized
with government assistance. By 1954, Ducati Meccanica SpA was producing 120 bikes a day, but cheap cars were
entering the market, and sales for many motorcycle manufacturers would decline.

From the 1960s to the 1990s the Spanish company MotoTrans licensed Ducati engines and produced motorcycles that
were recognizably Ducati derived, although incorporating many subtle differences. MotoTrans' most notable machine was
the 250 cc 24 Horas (Spanish: 24 hours), a 285 cc version that won the Barcelona twenty-four hour race at the Montjuic
circuit for three consecutive years, 1956 to 1958.

Motorcycle Designs

2006 Ducati Paul Smart 1000LE

Ducati is best known for high performance motorcycles characterized by large capacity four-stroke, 90-degree L-twin[5]
engines featuring a desmodromic valve design.[6] Modern Ducatis remain among the dominant performance motorcycles
available today partly because of the Desmodromic valve design, which is nearing its 50th year of use. Desmodromic
valves are closed with a separate, dedicated cam lobe and lifter instead of the conventional valve springs used in most
internal combustion engines. This allows the cams to have a more radical profile, thus opening and closing the valves
more quickly without the risk of valve-float which is likely when using a "passive" closing mechanisms under the same
conditions.

While most other manufacturers utilize wet-clutches (with the spinning parts bathed in oil) Ducati uses multiplate dry
clutches in many of their current motorcycles. The dry clutch eliminates the power loss from oil viscosity drag on the
engine even though the engagement may not be as smooth as the oil bath versions, and the clutch plates can wear more
rapidly.

Product History
The chief designer of Ducati motorcycles from the 1950s was the late Fabio Taglioni (1920-2001). He designed most
Ducatis during this period, ranging from the small single cylinder machines that were successful in the Italian 'street
races' up to the large capacity twins of the 80s. Ducati introduced the Pantah in 1979; its engine was updated in the 1990s
in the Ducati SuperSport (SS) series. All modern Ducati engines are derivatives of the Pantah, which uses a toothed belt to
actuate the engine's valves. Taglioni used the Cavallino Rampante (identified with the Ferrari brand) on his Ducati
motorbikes, Taglioni chose this emblem of courage and daring as a sign of respect and admiration for Francesco Baracca,
a heroic World War I fighter pilot that died during an air raid in 1918

1950s
Ducati Singles

When Ducati began manufacturing motorcycles, they were single cylinder engines. Ducati produced single cylinder
motorcycles from 1950 to 1974. Chief Engineer Fabio Taglioni developed a desmodromic valve system in these years, a
system that opens and closes the valves using the camshaft, without the need for valve springs. This valve system has
become a trademark feature of Ducati motorcycles.

The Singles (1950 - 1973)
In 1926, the brothers Adriano and Marcello Ducati founded Societa Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati, a company in Bologna
producing tubes, condensers and other radio components. On June 1, 1935, the cornerstone of a factory in Borgo Panigale
was laid. By 1940, the company was engaged in the manufacture of electronic equipment for the military, making the
factory a target for Allied bombing. The Ducati factory at Borgo Panigale was hit badly more than once, but maintained
production.

Cucciolo

1950 Ducati Vilar Cucciolo

During World War II, Ducati developed a small engine mounted on a bicycle, called the Cucciolo ("little puppy") and in 1950
began producing its own complete 98-pound motorcycle with the same name.

Ducati 65 TS and Cruiser
The market was moving though, towards bigger motorcycles and Ducati's IRI management felt diversification was the only
answer. Ducati made an impression at the early 1952 Milan Show, introducing the Ducati 65 TS cycle and the Cruiser, the
world's first four-stroke scooter. Despite being described as the most interesting new machine at the 1952 show, the
Cruiser was not a great success. A couple of thousand were made over a two year period before being withdrawn from
production.

In 1953, management decided to split the operation into two separate entities, Ducati Meccanica SpA, and Ducati
Elettronica SpA, under separate management. Dr. Giuseppe Montano took over as head of Ducati Meccanica SpA and the
old Borgo Panigale factory was modernized, with government assistance.

By 1954, Ducati Meccanica SpA was producing 120 bikes a day, but cheap cars were entering the markets, and sales for
many motorcycle manufacturers would decline.

OHC 98 cc Gran Sport
Ducati's single overhead-cam 98 cc Gran Sport, designed by Taglioni, became the blueprint for all future Ducati singles. It
had an air-cooled cylinder inclined forward 10 degrees from vertical, gear primary drive, wet-sump lubrication, battery
ignition and camshaft drive by vertical shaft and bevel gears. This bike came to dominate its class in Italian racing. In
1956 there was a dohc 125 cc version of the Gran Sport.

In spite of being a government appointed director, Montano was a motorcycle enthusiast and under his direction, Ducati's
competitive activities grew. Fabio Taglioni was chief designer and technical director of Ducati from 1954 to 1989, serving
longer than many of the managements that were to follow. The company soon developed a full-fledged racing team. Italians
were avid racing fans and would buy bikes built by winners. To acquire a competitive image Ducati needed to race
successfully. Taglioni’s usual development procedure was to test a motorcycle on the racetrack before releasing it to the
public.

125 Desmo Ducati
The high rpm's needed to produce competitive power in a small engine generated valve float, which Taglioni believed
could be overcome with a desmodromic cylinder head. The 125 Grand Prix could produce 16 hp at 11,500 rpm, its true rev
limit, while the Desmo could crank out 19 hp at 12,500 rpm and could “safely” (bottom end permitting) rev further to 15,000.
Big-end life was short at these sorts of revs and new crankshaft bearings were put in for every race.

Desmodromics, were used in the W196 Mercedes-Benz straight-eight Desmo engines that dominated early formula 1
racing. When Mercedes retired from racing, it retired the Mercedes desmo technology, never using it in production models.
Taglioni applied it successfully to Ducati motorcycles. As usual, Desmo technology was used first in racing Ducatis and
then in Ducati street machines.

The 125 Desmo Ducati won its first race at the 1956 Swedish G.P. at Hedemora, lapping all the other cycles, but then its
rider, Gianni Degli Antoni, died during the practice for the next race, the Italian G.P. of Monza. That death dealt a severe
blow to the Ducati racing program and it was not until 1958 that their team was able to mount a serious challenge to Italy’s
MV Agusta, and their top rider, former 125 cc world champion, Carlo Ubbiali.

In 1958 the Ducati Desmo dominated the racing season and the racing team was soon headed for the World Championship.
Unfortunately a mid-season injury to winning Ducati rider Bruno Spaggiani spoilt their run, allowing Ubbiali to narrowly
take the title again. Nevertheless, in that season the Desmodromic engine had proved its quality and reliability, in terms of
maximizing engine power and as insurance against over-revving damage. These characteristics proved attractive to
motorcycle buyers.

The 125 Sport became the 125 Monza. There was also the Monza Super, a further improved version with high-compression
piston, modified camshaft, a slightly larger SS1 Dell'Orto racing carburettor, and a straight-through exhaust. The Monza
Super was British market only. Oxford’s Ducati dealer, Kings, was pushing Ducati for a 250 cc machine to compete
against British and Japanese motorcycles. Ducati began by building a 250 cc racer. The prototype won most of its races in
America, many running in conjunction with 500 cc events.

The first production Ducati 250 debuted at the Milan Fair in April 1961. It was called the Diana but for some unknown
reason was re-named as Daytona in the UK.The 250 was so popular that in 1963 Ducati introduced the Diana Mark 3 Super
Sport.

The Berliner Brothers, held the US Ducati franchise in the late 1950s, and because of the brothers' forceful personalities,
this began to affect what was produced. Though this ultimately ended up having disastrous consequences for all
concerned, in the short run it secured for Ducati a much larger slice of the U.S. market than they would otherwise have
had. In 1963 the Berliner brothers suggested that Ducati build a Harley beater, leading to the Ducati Apollo V4, which made
it to a tyre shredding prototype stage, but was never manufactured. Two machines were built, one of which can now be
seen in the Ducati museum in Bologna.

Ducati Diana Mark 3 Super Sport

1970 Ducati Mach I 250ccm

This machine first appeared in 1962 in Europe where it was named the 'Mach 1'. It was derived from the production 250s
but was considerably tuned and had 5 gears instead of the 4 of its predecessors. Several European magazines tested it
aand were able to exceed 100mph, making it by far the fastest production 250 on the market. It was later introduced to the
American market where, under the name of Diana Mark 3 Super Sport, it proved again to be the fastest 250 street bike in
the world that year. In a carefully monitored Cycle World track test, the Mark 3 did a standing 1/4 mile in 16.5 seconds with
a final speed of 79.5 mph. Its top speed was 104 mph. Even a TD-1 Yamaha racer, tested by Cycle World that same year,
was unable to match the Ducati's top speed and no other comparably sized registrable production bike that year could
compete with its performance.

Ducati motorcycles were selling well in North America and other export markets such as Britain, Australia and Germany.
In Italy Ducati was doing well, and not just building motorcycles. By 1965, Ducati Meccanica SpA had become the Italian
distributor for Standard-Triumph cars and Leyland vans and trucks.

Two-Strokes
Ducati was manufacturing a 50 cc two stroke, with power outputs from 0.92 hp at 4,600 rpm to 4.2 at 8,600 rpm. These 50
cc Ducati two-strokes were raced with considerable success in Italy, but failed to sell in America. The market just did not
exist. In hindsight, Ducati probably would have done better by focussing on its well-developed line of sporting four-
strokes, but the company persisted with the 50 cc, 80, 90, and finally 100 cc versions of the same two-stroke bikes,
despite poor sales. These small 2 strokes were built in all sorts of versions, from mini-racers through trail and scrambler
type models even to scooters. Early versions had 3-speed hand change gears but this later became 4-speed foot change.
Some versions had fan-cooled engines.

While sufficient members of management wished to persist in production, some engineers were already refusing to work
on them, and pursuing other company projects with more promise for the company future.

1965 Ducati 350 Sebring
In 1965, the first new concept bike arrived. The 350 Sebring was the largest Ducati of the day. Typically, Ducati built a
racing 350 first. The 350 class was not common in the United States, so when Ducati team rider Franco Farne went to
America to race at Sebring race, he had to race in an event catering to 251-700 cc machines. Despite the larger capacity
opposition, he finished 11th overall and, more importantly, won his own class outright. In honour of Farne's victory the
new model became the 350 Sebring. (Footnote: It was common for Italian manufacturers of competition cars or
motorcycles to attach to the name their products events they have won.)

By the mid-1960's, production techniques had advanced to the extent that a road Desmo was now possible. Farne's
appeared at the April 1966 Modena meeting, riding a prototype 250 cc machine fitted with an experimental Desmodromic
head. In 1967 Roberto Gallina and Gilberto Parlotti raced at Modena on 250 and 350 versions.

Production Desmo

Ducati 350cc

In 1967, after eight years of development, Ducati introduced its first production Desmodromic engine, a machine that drew
as much from the race track as it did from the drawing board, epitomising the engineering concept that “form follows
function”.

In January, 1968, Ducati announced plans to build and market the 450 cc Mark 3D. The D was for Desmodromic.

Early in 1969 the long-awaited Desmo production machine began appearing. The Desmo design in the new engine, had all
four closing and opening lobes mounted on the same shaft, similar to the arrangement used in the late fifties W196
Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 cars. The bike was available in Europe in 250 and 350 versions as well as the 450.

The motorcycling public seemed to feel that it should have been a “real” 500, and it did not sell well in the US, despite the
fact that it outperformed many larger capacity motorcycles of its time. Berliner seemed unable to “hit a winner” in its
choice of models, or in selling them to a “cubic inch” market.

In Britain Vic Camp had recognized that Ducati was an enthusiast’s motorcycle and concentrated on a relatively narrow
performance-oriented line.

By 1967 Berliner was at the brink of financial ruin - and Ducati with it. The 160 Monza Junior was another flop in the U.S.
market. The US was buying larger capacity two cylinder motorcycles, and it came to the point where Berliner refused a
shipment, citing market saturation, but the grim reality was, they did not have the funds to pay. This shipment was
purchased by a speculator named Bill Hannah and the bikes were sold on the UK market at prices that undercut Vic
Camp's official imports.

In the financial tragedy that followed Montano retired. The only out on offer was a takeover by EFIM, a government holding
company. This meant direct government control over day-to-day factory operations via a government-appointed
administrator whose independent powers were limited.

Ducati's last real off-road, four stroke, competition motorcycles were the 1971 450 R/T and 450 R/S. The RT had a Seely
style frame that looked stylish, especially when compared to the old style frames on other Ducati singles, but 1971 was a
few years too late. Less than 70 were made.

For many British car and motorcycle companies of the era, government intervention was the guarantee of a lingering
death. This did not prove to be so for Ducati. Unlike British manufacturers of the time, Italy’s Ducati was successful in re-
inventing itself. It did this with a line of larger capacity V-twins, but first it went racing, on 500 cc Desmo GP bikes and the
Ducati 750 Imola Desmo.

1960s
Ducati Apollo

The 1964 Ducati Berliner 1260 Apollo was a prototype model of motorcycle, that did not make it into production, yet
influenced other production models that followed. Both Ducati and Berliner were experiencing declining sales of existing
small capacity single cylinder models, and sought to create a bike to compete with Harley Davidson. It was a 90° V4 of
1260 cc that produced 100 bhp, and even though it did not make it in to production, it inspired a run of V-twin models that
continue to this day.

Concept
In 1959, the Berliner brothers (Ducati importers in America), spoke to Ducati about creating a rival to the Harley-Davidson
to sell to police departments around the U.S. The Berliner’s were enthusiastic. Ducati’s government management was not.
It was only when Berliners agreed to underwrite a proportion of the development costs in 1961, that the project went
ahead. They decided to call it the Apollo, in honour of the moon mission series of the time.

Ducati was to produce two prototypes and two extra engines as spares. Today only one survives.

Mechanicals
Fabio Taglioni was to develop a bike that conformed to US police specifications, and was bigger than any current model
Harley-Davidson. Taglioni decided on an air cooled 1256 cc 90 degree two valve head V4 using a 180 degree crankshaft
with roller bearing big ends. That crankshaft fitted into a horizontally split wet sump crankcase with a centre main bearing
support. The bore was 84.5 mm, and the stroke 56 mm. Valve actuation was by pushrods and rocker arms. That was the
engine.

Ducati Apollo motorcycle

The engine was also a stressed member of the heavy duty open cradle frame with a central box section front downtube
between the forward cylinders. Small car sized starter motor and generator were fitted. It had a five speed transmission,
when most motorcycles had four. Ceriani developed the suspension package, but riders today would be alarmed by the
inadequate front and rear single leading shoe 8.675 inch (220 mm) drum brakes. The stopping distance was huge, and had
to be allowed for. It had a 61.2 inch wheelbase, and weighed 596 lb (270 kg) dry. Taglioni dismissed the Berliners’
suggestion of shaft drive, and chose chain final drive. The police specification stipulated 16 inch tyres, so there was little
choice in that.

Performance
Initially it was putting out 100 bhp @ 7000 rpm, and could exceed 120 mph. The Harley of the time made 55 bhp. The first
test rider Franco Farne came back from his first ride, and said it “handles like a truck.” Farne normally rode small racers.
It soon became evident that even specially made tyres were not up to the power of the engine. A tyre disintegrated at
speed on the Autostrada, and the test rider rated his survival “a miracle”. The engine was detuned to give 80 bhp. Tyres
continued to disintegrate. The engine was brought down to 65 bhp, and the survival rate of the tyres became acceptable.
This was late 1963. (In 1958 Moto Guzzi had used a 20 inch rear tyre on the Grand Prix 500 cc V8, and they had worn
rapidly with 78 bhp.)

In March 1964 a gold painted prototype was handed over in a formal ceremony. Possibly one of the first Harley imitators.

The reduction in power though meant that the Apollo could now be outperformed by the British and BMW twins, which
restricted the anticipated market to police forces. The Berliners were printing advertising, demonstrating the prototype to
Police Chiefs, and genuinely preparing to market the Apollo.

Berliners specification sheet
This is from a promotional flyer distributed by Berliners, which also included a front three quarter black and white view of
the gold bike:
Specifications of the D/B V/4 - an exclusive project of DUCATI – BERLINER
SPORT ENGINE - 4 Cylinder 1260 cc, Bore x Stroke 84.5 x 56 mm
Carburetors 4 (SS 1 32 mm) - Compression Ratio 10:1 - Approx. 100 HP @ 7000 RPM
(Optional) Carburetors 2 (SS 1 24 mm) - Compression Ratio 8:1 - Approx. 80 HP @ 6000 RPM
Gearbox built in unit with the engine
Electric starter and kick starter
Five (5) speed, positive shift
Oil sump capacity 3.5 quarts
12 volt electrical system, 32 amp battery
Alternator 200 Watt, Starter engine: 0.50 kW
Wheelbase 1550 mm
Interchangeable and quickly detachable front and rear wheel
Front tire: Ribbed 5.00 X 16 inch Rear tire: Block tread 5.00 x 16 inch
Large full hub front and rear brakes
Rubber cushioned rear sprocket
"Roll on" center stand and side stand
Comfortable dual seat with sturdy Chrome plated hand rail.
Width; Engine 450 mm Handlebar 750 mm Ground clearance 170 mm
Chain 5/8 x 3/8 primary chain duplex,
Weight approx. 240 kg
The first production series will be manufactured early in 1965 for the European and other foreign markets. Shipments
scheduled for the United States are planned for the second half of 1965. The price in the USA will be approximately $1500.
– Berliners Motor Corporation.

Project End
The Italian government decided that the limited market did not justify the tooling costs of production, and withdrew project
funding. This was a severe blow to Berliners business plans.

It could have been a superbike before its time but tyre technology was not ready. There were other bikes developed as a
result: the 1970 500 cc GP bikes and 750 cc production 90 degree V-twins.

The second prototype, a black and silver sports version with four Dell'Orto SS 1 carburettors, survived, and was on
display at Ducati's factory museum in Bologna, courtesy of its owner, Hiroaki Iwashita, from 2002 to 2003. Its sole public
appearance in recent decades was at the 2002 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The fate of the first gold painted prototype is
unknown.

1970s
Ducati V-twins

Ducati Multistrada 90-Degree V-twin motor

The next new Ducati engine to appear after the Ducati Apollo was the 90°V twin, initial Grand Prix racing versions being
500 cc, and the production bikes were 750 cc. There was also the Ducati 750 Imola Desmo that won at Imola in 1972.
These engines had bevel gear shaft drive to the overhead camshaft, and were produced in round, square, and Mille
crankcases. In the 1980s these gave way to the belt drive camshaft engines that have continued to this day, in air and
liquid cooled form. The Mille used a plain bearing crank, like the belt models.

V-Twin or L-Twin
Generally, any two-cylinder motorcycle engine with its two cylinders at an equidistant opposite angles from the center
rotation of the crankshaft is referred to as a V-twin. The Ducati V-twin is unique in that it is a 90 degree "V" leading many to
refer to it as an "L-Twin" engine instead. Either usage is correct since a "V-twin" engine is not designated by a specific
angle.

Two Valve Engines
Ducati engineer, Fabio Taglioni, once said that when they started building the plain bearing crank, belt driven camshaft
engines, instead of the old ball bearing crank, bevel geared shaft drive camshaft engines, he had gone from making
complex engines to making simple ones.

Bevel gear driven valves
(Round case, Square case, and Mille)
On March 20, 1970, Fabio Taglioni made the first sketches for the layout of a new Ducati V twin. By April his drawings
were completed, and by July, there was a running motor. By August 1970, there was a complete prototype motorcycle.
Taglioni engaged Leopoldo Tartarini, the founder of Italjet, to refine the styling aspects of the new Ducati. (When these two
worked together, a memorable Ducati usually emerged.)

In October 1970, the decision was made by Ducati to re enter motorcycle competition. Director Arnaldo Milvio and General
Manager Fredmano Spairani, were enthusiastic about racing, and had encouraged Fabio Taglioni to develop the 750 V twin.

In 1971 five 500 cc V twins were built to compete in Italian championship and Grand Prix events. Ducati felt that this
would demonstrate the bike before a large audience and gain publicity. If they won, that was a bonus.

Even before this, in late 1970, and despite Taglioni's opposition to the idea, Spairani wanted the frame for Ducati’s racer to
be built by Colin Seeley, a well known British specialist frame builder of the time. Seely was asked to develop a racing
frame similar to those he had built for G50 Matchless engines. They sent some prototype crankcases for Seely to work
from. Ducati’s new Seely frame was ready in February 1971.

Meanwhile, in less than six months, Fabio Taglioni and his team had designed and built their own complete bike. (The
industry norm for concept to production is three years)

While the 750 and 500 racers were very similar, the 500 had a much shorter 58 mm stroke with its 74 mm bore. It had 10.5:
1 compression and initially produced 61.2 bhp (45.6 kW) at 11,000 rpm. (Same bore and stroke as the later 500 Pantah) All
Ducati’s 500 cc GP engines used desmodromic two valve heads with an 80 degree included valve angle. They used
remote float bowl Dell'Orto 40 mm carburettors, and had a six speed gearbox with a dry, multiplate clutch. Ignition was
electronic, provided by nearby Ducati Elettrotecnica, but was initially unreliable. Dual spark plugs were used, and the final
ignition system used four coils, two on each side of the frame.

In the beginning Taglioni’s Ducati chassis was used. It had a single Lockheed front disc brake and a twin leading shoe
Fontana rear drum brake. Dry weight was 135 kg and it had 18in rims front and rear with 3.00 and 3.25 tyres. Wheelbase
was 1430 mm.

In June 1971, Phil Read tested the 500 cc bike with the Seeley frame, and pronounced it the better of the two. The frame
was then fitted to Spaggiari's bike as well. It was raced in 1972 by Bruno Spaggiari, Ermanno Guliano and Phil Read.

Also in June 1971, the first Ducati 750 GT models came out of the factory, distinguished by silver frames, metal-flake paint,
fibreglass fuel tanks, 30 mm Amal carburettors, and twin leading shoe rear brakes.

Taglioni experimented with four valve heads at this time, but failed to produce better power figures than his two valve
heads, so the two valve racers continued. He continued to experiment with four valve heads right up to 1973.

In 1971 race results were spoilt by a run of gearbox and ignition problems. Phil Read's second to Agostini in the San Remo
Grand Prix, and a fourth, also by Read, at Monza in the Grand Prix delle Nazione were the highlights of the season. .

A Seely frame 750 cc had been tested by Mike Hailwood at Silverstone in August 1971 with a view to competing in F750.
Hailwood decided against it, saying he didn’t think the handling was good enough.

Taglioni had already produced a new frame, for the production bike, incorporating some of the Seely features. He later said
he felt the Seely frame had been too light for the V twins. They used the production frame for the 1972 Imola bikes.

The 200 Mile formula was first run in Italy in 1972, at Imola. Ducati prepared eight 750 cc bikes for the event. Paul Smart,
Bruno Spaggiari, Ermanno Giuliano, and Alan Dunscombe were secured as riders. By now racing fever had set in, and the
factory wanted to win. The bikes had the new factory frames and 750 engines, and were once more prepared in a very
short time. Wherever possible the bike was lightened, and new 40 mm Dell'Orto carburetors with accelerator pumps were
used. These engines delivered 80 hp (60 kW) at 8,500 rpm.

In that Imola 200 held in April, Smart and Spaggiari came in first and second.

The effect on Ducati sales was remarkable. Suddenly, a lot more people the world over knew about Ducati.

The current production 750GT now had a black frame, new seat, and a red or black paint-job.

Racing success did not last long once Agostini’s bike was improved. In May 1972, Bruno Spaggiari finished third in the
Italian Grand Prix at Imola, with Paul Smart in fourth, reversing their finishing order in the 200 of a month before. Now the
twin could not match Agostini on the MV triple.

Taglioni turned to fuel injection. Direct injection was tried on the 500 grand prix bike at a test session at Modena in March
1972. It was outlawed by the FIM as a form of supercharging soon after.

By 1972 the racing bikes had Lockheed twin front discs with a single Lockheed rear disc. Unique leading axle Marzocchi
front forks were used.

In 1972 a three cylinder 350 cc 12 valve dohc engine with a seven speed gearbox, was developed, based on a British
Ricarclo engine. Fortunately for V-twin fans, it was not competitive.

The 1972 Ducati 750 Sport was released, initially using the 750GT frame with the wider seat section and upper rear shocks
in line with the frame, but this was soon changed to a frame with a slimmer rear and the upper rear shock mounts outside
the frame. The Sport also had blacked out crankcase, 32 mm Dell'Orto carburettors, single seat and sports fuel tank. As
with the 750 GT, Tartarini was the styling consultant. At the same time the single cylinder street racer models were given a
restyle, and a matching paint job to the 750 Sport

The last iteration of the 500 racer appeared during 1973, with belt driven double overhead camshafts, and a radial finned
front cylinder. The camshaft belts were on the opposite side to the bevel gear shaft drives on earlier engines. The engine
had been developed for Taglioni outside Ducati by Armaroli, and featured the reversed head layout found in the later Paso
where the inlet ports face each other. It produced 74 bhp (55 kW) at 12,000 rpm, not a big increase. MV continued to win. .

In 1971 and 1972 the 500s, and later the 750s, were raced and displayed throughout the western world as part of a major
publicity exercise to promote the Ducati name.

In 1973 there was a disastrous change of management personnel. The new boss was De Eccher. All racing projects,
including the 500 four, 350 triple, and the 500 GP V twin, were scrapped. Production was to end for the round case 750
models and all the single cylinder models. Despite Ducati’s withdrawal from racing, many privateers, tuners, and
independent racing teams continued to campaign and develop their motorcycles.

In 1973 the production Ducati 750 SuperSport model was unveiled, with an Imola kit for the intending racers. The bike was
distinguished by its slim green frame, gaping bell mouths on 40 mm Dell'Ortos, half fairing, fibreglass sports fuel tank with
clear fuel-level strip down the side, and single seat.

By now the GT and Sport had steel fuel tanks. The GT had shorter rear shocks to lower seat height for the American
market, but it meant the bike would ground out more easily when cornering. The Amals on the GT were replaced by 30 mm
Dell'Ortos with accelerator pumps. This reduced fuel economy a little.

In 1973, Ducati also commemorated its 1972 win at the Imola 200 with the production model green frame Ducati 750
SuperSport.

In 1973 the Barcelona 24 hour race was won by Canellas and Grau on a round case Ducati 750 SS converted into an 860
by the use of the Ducati 450 single cylinder engine’s sleeves and pistons.

In 1974, the 860 GT went into production. The crankcases had been redesigned by Giugiaro, along with the rest of the bike,
with a squared off look, quite unlike the flowing lines of the 750. The new boss De Eccher saw Ducati’s future in US
exports, and had engaged Giorgietto Giugiaro to do the external design work on the new 860 instead of Tartarini. Taglioni
was made to redesign the outer engine cases to match Giugiaro’s design. (The new 350 and 500 GTL sport vertical twins
were also released, also externally designed by Giugiaro. The motors were not built by Taglioni. He had refused to be
involved with them.)

Ducati sales fell. The 860 GTS did not sell well, and the vertical twins were hardly selling at all. De Eccher was out, and
Taglioni was back in favour, and so, by association, was Tartarini. A hasty re-design of the fuel tank and seat was
undertaken to create the 900GTS - a model destined to help the company regain some ground. At the same time plans were
put in place to create two new models the Darmah and the Pantah.

In 1974 Australian importer Ron Angel entered a "Ducati 860 SS" in the Unlimited Production event at the Easter motorbike
races at Bathurst, on the mountain. This was the biggest annual motorcycle event in Australia at the time. The bike was
ridden by Kenny Blake, and defeated the then dominant Kawasaki 900s on the day. It was sensational. The crowd loved it.
Protests flew. Ron Angel immediately started advertising the bikes, saying a shipment was on the way. There was an
investigation into the bona-fides of the bike by the governing body - the Auto Cycle Union of New South Wales. The bike
was accepted when the Ducati factory sent a letter confirming that Ducati 860 SuperSports were being manufactured, and
the ACU-NSW awarded the race to Blake and the 860 SuperSport. When the 900 SuperSport shipment finally did arrive, it
was a different bike to the 860 SuperSport that had won Bathurst, but it was too late to matter. That special Bathurst bike
had round cases, and looked identical to a green frame 750 SS, but with the 860 camshaft bearing mounts on the heads,
and 860 SuperSport on the bike’s side covers. Ron Angel later said that the bike had been built by Ducati at his request for
the previous Bathurst, but was then ruled ineligible, so more work was done and the bike was sent by sea, arriving in
time for the race the following year, where it was presented as a production bike. It had special parts, including the Imola
cams and the limited availability close ratio gearbox. The 2 kg inboard flywheel had been removed, but the bike did not
have the straight cut primary gears of the Imola bikes. The camshaft bearing mounts were the only externally obvious 860
part. (The "900" models remained 860 cc.)

Ron Angel had previously brought Spagghiari’s bike out to Australia after Imola, and Blake had ridden it in competition
where the rules allowed. That bike had the straight cut primary gears.

In 1976 Tartarini did a makeover on the 860GT creating the Ducati Darmah SD900. It was an immediate success.

The only new Giugiaro cased bevel models after this were the Mike Hailwood Replica, a cosmetic version of the NCR
racers, and the S2. Unlike the SuperSport, the MHR bikes were not thinly disguised race bikes, but road bikes dressed as
racers.

The Mille engine was not just an overbore of the 860, but a complete redesign of the engine. It had a one piece forged
nitrided crankshaft, with plain big-end bearings and a larger oil pump with the oil pressure at 80 psi. The new crankshaft
had an 80 mm stroke, and with the 88 mm bore, gave a 973 cc engine, and a 5% improvement in power. The complete
MHR Mille weighed 198 kg dry. The gearbox and final ratios were altered to give a better spread of ratios, so that the
performance gain is a little better than the horsepower and weight figures would suggest. A kick-starter was no longer
available. A Nippon Denso starter motor was standard. The giugiario engine covers had finally disappeared. The engine
was available in the MHR Mille and S2 Mille. The MHR outsold the S2 nine to one.

The 1971 750 GT evolved through the late 1972 750 Sport and 1974 750SS into the 1975 900SS and the 1982 Mike
Hailwood Replicas. Despite other variations, all these frames kept the typical Seely style chain adjusters.

Belt driven valves
(Pantah 500SL onwards)
When the 350 cc and 500 cc vertical twins were recognised as a marketing disaster, Taglioni went to work on the Pantah.

It came onto the market in 1980 as the red and siver 500SL. It used the same bore and stroke as the old 500 racers, 74
mm x 58 mm, but had a 60 degree included valve angle and belt driven camshafts. They were noticeably lacking in bottom
end and mid range torque, but revved freely enough. The handling seemed less certain, and the 35 mm front forks lacked
rigidity.

Enthusiasts soon found the final gearing too tall, and the intake and exhaust restrictive. If you changed those, you had a
fast bike.

In 1981 the silver 600SL became available with fairing and hydraulic clutch activation. It had an 80 mm bore and the 58
mm stroke giving 583 cc (TT2 racer used 81 mm) By 1984 the last of the 600SL bikes had MHR paint.

In 1982 the 600TL was released, and the styling was promptly panned. They lasted till 1983.

In 1983 the 650SL came about because of the need to homologate the TT1 750 racer’s 61.5 mm stroke. Instead of
producing a production 750, the 650SL was born with 82 mm bore and the 61.5 mm stroke. Visually it was the same as the
600SL, but it had torque, and that was a big improvement.

Cagiva (CAstiglioni GIovanni VArese) company, founded by the Castiglioni brothers, took over Ducati Meccanica in 1985.
Ducati engines promptly appeared in Cagiva motorcycles, such as the Cagiva Alazzurra, and the Cagiva Elefant.

The 650SL continued to be produced after the Cagiva take-over, and ended production in 1986.

In 1985 the Ducati F1 750 was released, based on the TT1 and TT2 racers, with full flow oil cooling rather than cylinder
head bypass cooling, and cantilever rear suspension. The first production bikes used the same size valves as the 500
had, restricting performance. With its 1400 mm wheelbase, it was a smaller 750 than the world was used to, and ancillary
parts were of mixed quality. Larger riders found it small, and the 16-inch (410 mm) front wheel restricted tyre choice.
Distinctive features included 38 mm Marzocchi front forks, fully floating rear disc brake, Nippon Denso instruments, and an
aluminium petrol tank.

This was the same year the liquid cooled Ducati Quattrovalvole (or Desmoquattro) models appeared. While air cooled
models are still produced, development since has focussed more on the liquid cooled models.

In 1986 the 750 F1 crankcases were strengthened, and now used straight cut primary gears driving a hydraulically
activated dry clutch, and stronger gearbox. The valve sizes were increased to 41 mm and 35 mm, as used on the TT2, and
this meant smaller 12 mm sparkplugs were fitted. Other features were 40 mm Forcella front forks, Veglia instruments, and
a steel petrol tank. The 750 F1 continued to be produced in 1987 and 1988.

There were three limited edition models; the Montjuich, the Laguna Seca, and the Santa Monica. These used 40 mm
Dell'Orto carburettors, hotter camshafts, a two into one Verlicchi exhaust, 4 piston Brembo calipers with fully floating discs
all round, and an aluminium swingarm. These are considered the best of the 750 F1 models.

In the same way Ducati had sought Seely’s frame expertise in 1970, Cagiva now went to Massimo Tamburini of Bimota to
design a new frame and look for the 750 F1. The Ducati Paso was born, and was named in honour of Renzo Pasolini. The
engine was no longer a stressed member of the frame. The cradle frame used M1R Marzocchi forks and rising rate rear
suspension. It weighed 195 kg and had almost fully enclosed bodywork. The rear cylinder head was reversed so that both
cylinders could share a single twin throat Weber carburettor. The Paso was the second proposal from Tamburini, the first,
considered too expensive to produce by the Ducati board, became the Bimota DB1.

The Weber carburettor proved troublesome. Despite numerous tuning revisions owners were plagued with flat spots,
backfiring, and throttle lag. The 750 Paso was produced until 1990.

In 1988 a 750 Sport was released, basically a Weber carbed Paso engine in a 750F1 frame, but with an aluminium
swingarm.

In 1989 the liquid cooled 906 Paso was introduced, with a 92 mm bore and 68 mm stroke, and a six speed gearbox, and
weighing in at 205 kg.

With the release of the 906 Paso, an air cooled version of the engine was put into a 1988 750 Sport frame, and the
resulting bike called a 1989 900 SuperSport . It weighed just 180 kg, and came with a choice between full and half faing.
In 1990 the Weber was replaced by Mikuni 38 mm CV carburettors, with equal length intakes, while the frame was given a
25 degree steering rake, a reduced 1410 mm wheelbase, a new alloy swingarm, and an adjustable 41 mm Showa upside
down forks.

In 1991 the liquid cooled 907IE was released with Weber-Marelli fuel injection. Early in the model run the crankcases
were strengthened, after some cracking in racing use. These had 17-inch (430 mm) wheels, and four piston Brembo brake
calipers. The 907IE ended production in 1992.

Also in 1991, a five speed 750 SuperSport was released with a single disc, and non-adjustable 41 mm Showa forks. A 400
SuperSport Junior was also released using the same 750SS running gear.

The 900 SuperLight appeared in 1992 as a limited edition model SuperSport with monoposto seat, upswept exhaust pipes,
vented clutch cover, fully floating Brembo front discs, carbon fibre bits, and lightweight Marvic wheels and guards. In
1993 the vented clutch cover, fully floating Brembo front discs, and lightweight Marvic wheels and guards disappeared
from the SuperLight, and there was now only the fully floating rear brake to differentiate the 900 SuperSport and SuperLight.

1993 saw the introduction of the (M900) Ducati Monster, a 900 SuperSport motor in a modified 851 frame. It weighed 184
kg, and had a low seat height of 770 mm. It was not a race bike or a tourer, but a naked boulevard cruiser crossed with a
traffic light dragster. It was quite a sales success.

In 1994 a five speed 600 SuperSport and a five speed 600 Monster appeared. It was the original specification motor and
gearbox, with all the improvements of contemporary models added. The 750 SuperSport was updated with twin 320 mm
front discs, and a steel swing arm. The 900 SuperSport and SuperLight received uprated Showa forks, and in 1995, an oil
temperature gauge was added to the instruments.

In 1996 the M900 gained fully adjustable Marzocchi forks. This was also the year Texas Pacific Group bought a 51% stake
in the company for US$325 million, thus taking over from Cagiva, and renamed the company 'Ducati Motor SpA.

In 1998 came the 944 cc liquid cooled Ducati ST2 Sports Turismo, with an engine descended from the earlier Paso 906 and
907ie.

In 2000 the 1000SS (992 cc) was released, weighing 185 kg, with a 1395 mm wheelbase.

In late 2003 the 620SS, 800SS , and 1000DS came on the market, still two valve, but with a narrower included valve angle.

The Multistrada 1000DS was ostensibly a supermoto bike, but with a more upright seating position. The 1000DS was a two
valve dual spark SuperSport. The 1000DS motor has a 992 cc air cooled 90° V-Twin, based on Ducati's existing liquid and
air-cooled engines, with twin-spark plug heads, pressure fed plain camshaft bearings, redesigned crankshaft, higher oil
pressure and volume, and new alloy clutch basket, drive and driven plates. The Multistrada 1000DS uses Ducati's
signature trellis frame with fully adjustable 160 mm travel Showa forks up front, and a single-sided swingarm, with an
Öhlins fully adjustable rear shock coupled with a rising rate, height-adjustable suspension system at the rear. Brembo
"Serie Oro" calipers used front and rear. Front 320 mm discs, Brembo four piston calipers, single 245 mm rear disc, and
steel-braided brake lines front and rear. The discs are now mounted directly to oversized hubs, eliminating the disc
carriers.

Multivalve Models
From 1985 there have also been Ducati multivalve motorcycles

(In 2006 the retro styled Ducati PaulSmart1000LE, which shares styling cues with the 1973 750 SuperSport (itself a
production replica of Paul Smart's 1972 race winning 750 Imola Desmo) was released, as one of a SportClassic series
representing the 750 GT, 750 Sport, and 750 SuperSport Ducati motorcycles.)

1980s
Ducati Quattrovalvole

The Ducati Quattrovalvole are water-cooled, four valve engines from Ducati. They have been produced since 1985 in
capacities from 851 cc to 999 cc.

The Early Desmoquattro (851 - 996S)
The water cooled Ducati Desmoquattro engine that has dominated World Superbike racing was introduced in 1985 in
Ducati 851 form, and despite subtle changes and increases in capacity, from 851, to 888, 916, and then 996 cc, remains
true to the 851 motor designed by Massimo Bordi. That 851 was the first successful adaptation of Ducati’s desmodromic
valve actuation to a four valves per cylinder engine, and began production with a 40 degree included valve angle. This
was also the introduction of liquid cooling and computerised fuel injection to the V-twin range.

Taglioni had experimented with four valve heads, but had stuck to his 80 degree included valve angle, not realising that a
much lower included valve angle was needed for the benefits of the layout to become apparent.

In 1991 Ducati increased the capacity of the 851 to 888 cc, creating the Ducati 888

In 1995, the company introduced the Ducati 916 model designed by Massimo Tamburini, with striking new bodywork that
featured aggressive lines, under-seat exhausts, and a single-sided swingarm.

Introduced in 1999 The Ducati 996 competed against Honda’s (VT1000) Firestorm ('SuperHawk' in the U.S.), Suzuki’s
TL1000S (and the later TL1000R) and the Aprilia RSV Mille (and the later Mille R).

The 996 cc engine had larger 98 mm (3.9 inch) pistons, larger valves, a stronger crankshaft and crankcases from the 916
SPS. But the 916 camshaft gave a softer, less peaky power delivery and less top-end power: Output was 83.5 kW (112
bhp) as against the SPS’s 92.4 kW (124 bhp)

From 1999, there were three different 996 models: the first two being the 996 Biposto and the 996S (with Öhlins
suspension and the engine of the 996SPS)

The Testastretta (996R - 999R)
The 2001 996R, last of the "996" models, had the 998 cc engine and new Testastretta ('Narrow Head') head, looking little
different from a 996SPS, but producing 135 bhp (100 kW) @ 10,200 rpm and 105 N·m (10.3 kgf·m, 74.5 ft·lbf) of torque at
8,000 rpm. It had a six-speed gearbox.

The new Testastretta head's included valve angle was reduced from 40 degrees to 25 degrees which was more in line
with current F1 four-valve theory. The bore and stroke dimensions changed from 98 mm x 66 mm to 100 mm x 63.5 mm,
giving a true 998 cc and allowing even bigger valves.

In 2002 the Ducati 998 appeared, and only lasted for one season. The basic SP model featured a combination of items from
the parts bins of higher specification versions of the 996, but unlike the 996, had the Testastretta engine in all 998 models.
There were also some chassis and aerodynamic modifications.

The 2003 Ducati 999 was designed by Pierre Terblanche, amid much controversy and criticism relating to the styling.
Admittedly, the earlier bikes were a hard act to follow.

The basic 999 produced 124 bhp (92 kW) @ 9500 rpm. It was followed by the more powerful 999S producing 136 bhp (99
kW)) @ 9750 rpm and 106 N·m (10.8 kgf·m or 78.2 ft·lbf) @ 8000 rpm, and then the 999R versions were introduced
producing 139 bhp (104 kW) and 11 kgf·m (108 N·m) @ 8000 rpm, capable of 0-62 mph in under 3 seconds and with a top
speed of over 170 mph (275 km/h).

In 2005 aerodynamic improvements as well as engine uprades were standard. The base 999 was given a 140 bhp engine
and outfitted with an adjustable Showa suspension, while the 999S model had 143 bhp (107 kW) and a top of the line
Öhlins suspension. The 999R was the only model to displace a true 999 cc (the others were 998 cc) and the engine is good
for 150 bhp (112 kW).

The 999’s little brother, the Ducati 749 is complemented to by the 749 Dark, 749S, and 749R. It is a 999 with a lower price,
smaller, higher revving engine and slightly smaller rear tire.

The Ducati 999R Xerox race replica was introduced in 2006.

Testastretta Evoluzione (1098)
The 2007 Ducati 1098 featured a new motor called the Testastretta Evoluzione ("evolution"). It had larger displacement,
larger valves, narrower included valve angle, better breathing through oval throttle bodies and butterfly valves, lighter
weight (including magnesium valve covers), and higher output than its predecessors. Ducati claim this to be the most
powerful twin-cylinder production motorcycle engine in the world.

Desmotre
The liquid cooled ST3 Desmotre engine has two 34 mm intake valves and one 40 mm exhaust valve and an included angle
of 40°. The Desmotre develops 102 hp (76 kW) at 8,750 rpm and 9.5 kgf·m (93 N·m) of torque at 7,250 rpm. The design is
aimed at meeting anti-pollution limits to be introduced.

The bottom end is derived from the 1000 DS Desmodue, with the water pump in the alternator cover.

Desmosedici
The Ducati Desmosedici-RR is a presold batch of V4 race replicas due to arrive in 2007.

Ducati's liquid-cooled multi-valve V twins made from 1985 on are known as Quattrovalvole ("four-valve"). These include
the 916 and 996, 999 and a few predecessors and derivatives.

1990s
In 1993, Miguel Angel Galuzzi introduced the Ducati Monster, a naked bike with exposed trellis and engine. Today the
Monster accounts for almost half of the company's worldwide sales. The Monster, which has been out since 1994, has
undergone the most changes of any motorcycle that Ducati has ever produced. After more than a decade of manufacturing,
Ducati continues to create innovative changes to this classic motorcycle.

In 1993 , Pierre Terblanche , Massimo Bordi and Claudio Domenicali designed the Ducati Supermono . A 550cc single
cylinder light weight “Catalog Racer”. Only 67 were built between 1993-1997.

In 1995, the company introduced the Ducati 916 model designed by Massimo Tamburini, a water-cooled version that
allowed for higher output levels and a striking new bodywork that featured aggressive lines, a underseat exhaust, and a
single-sided swingarm. Ducati has since ceased production of what many called the bike of the 1990s, supplanting it (and
its progeny, the 996 and 998) with the 749 and 999.

Current Lineup

Ducati Hypermotard

Ducati 1098 S Tricolore

Ducati Desmosedici RR

For the 2008 model year, Ducati Lineup is as follows:

Monster
695
696
S2R 1000
S4R Testastretta
S4R S Testastretta
S4R S Testastretta Tri-Colore

Multistrada
1100
1100 S

SportClassic
GT 1000
Sport 1000 monoposto
Sport 1000 biposto
Sport 1000 S biposto

Superbike
848
1098

Other
Hypermotard
Desmosedici RR

Engines
Desmodue: Desmo two valve air cooled, 40° included valve angle, (800SS, Multistrada 620, Monster 620 695 696 803 992)
Desmodue Double Spark: Desmo two valve , air cooled, 40° included valve angle, (1000DS, Multistrada 1000, 1000S,
Monster S2R 1000, SportClassic GT 1000, Sport 1000, 1000S, Hypermotard 1100, 1100S)
Desmotre Double Spark: Desmo three valve, liquid cooled, 40° included valve angle, (ST3)
Desmoquattro Testastretta: Desmo four valve, liquid cooled, 25° included valve angle, (999, 749, Monster S4R, S4RS)
Motors introduced for 2007+
Testastretta Evoluzione: Desmo four valve, liquid cooled, 25° included valve angle, (848/1098)

Motorcycle Design History

2007 Ducati Monster S4Rs Testastretta

Ducati (in its various incarnations) has produced several styles of motorcycle engines, including varying the number of
cylinders, type of valve actuation and fuel delivery. Ducati is best known for its "L-Twin" motor which is the powerplant in
the majority of Ducati-marqued motorcycles. Ducati has also manufactured engines with one, two, three or four cylinders;
operated by pull rod valves and push rod valves; single, double and triple overhead camshafts; two stroke and even at
one stage manufactured a stationary diesel engine, many of which were used as emergency pumps (eg for fire fighting).
Currently, Ducati makes no other engines except for its motorcycles.

On current Ducati motors except for the Desmosedici, the valves are actuated by a standard valve cam shaft which is
rotated by a timing belt driven by the motor directly. The teeth on the belt keep the camshaft drive pulleys indexed. On older
Ducati motors, prior to 1981, drive was by solid shaft that transferred to the camshaft through bevel-cut gears. This method
of valve actuation was used on many of Ducati's older single cylinder motorcycles - the shaft tube is visible on the outside
of the cylinder.

Ducati is also famous for using the desmodromic valve system championed by engineer and designer Fabio Taglioni
though they have also used engines that use valve springs to close their valves. In the early days, Ducati reserved the
desmodromic valve heads for its higher performance bikes and its race bikes. These valves do not suffer from valve float
at high engine speeds, thus a desmodromic engine is capable of far higher revolutions than a similarly configured engine
with traditional spring-valve heads.

In the 1960s and -70s Ducati produced a wide range of small two-stroke bikes, mainly sub-100 cc capacities. Large
quantities of some models were exported to the U.S.

Ducati has produced the following motorcycle engine types:

Single cylinder,
bevel actuated, spring valved: 98 cc, 100 cc, 125 cc, 160 cc, 175 cc, 200 cc, 239 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc, 450 cc
bevel actuated, desmodromic valved : 239 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc and 450 cc
belt actuated, desmodromic valved : 549/572 cc Supermono, only 65 made.

Two cylinder,
bevel actuated, spring valved (L-Twin): 750 cc, 860 cc
bevel actuated, desmo valved (L-Twin): 750 cc, 860 cc
chain actuated, spring valved (parallel twin): 350 cc, 500 cc (GTL)
chain actuated, desmo valved (parallel twin): 500 cc (500SD)
belt actuated, desmo valved (L-Twin): Almost all motors since 1986.

Four cylinder,
gear actuated, desmo valved (L-quattro): (Desmosedici)
bevel actuated, spring valved (L-4): Prototype Apollo, only two made.

Ducati products other than motorcycles
Ducati Meccanica (as the company was previously known) has its marque on non-motorcycle products as well. In the
1930s and 40s, Ducati manufactured radios, cameras, and electrical products such as a razor. The Ducati Sogno was a
half-frame Leica-like camera which is now a very rare collectors' item.

Currently, there are four Ducati companies: Ducati Motor Holding (the subject of this article), Ducati Corse (which runs the
Ducati racing program and is wholly owned by Ducati Motor Holding), Ducati Energia, a designer and manufacturer of
electrical and electronic components and systems and Ducati Sistemi, a subsidiary of Ducati Energia. All are located in
Borgo Panigale in Bologna, Italy.

Ducati Motor Holding often uses electrical components and subsystems from Ducati Energia.

Merchandising
Ducati has a wide range of accessories, lifestyle products and co-branded merchandise bearing their logos and designs.

Racing History

2006 Ducati 999R Xerox

2006 Ducati 999R Xerox

MotoGP World Championship
Ducati rejoined Grand Prix motorcycle racing in 2003, after a 30 year absence. On September 23, 2007 Casey Stoner
clinched his and Ducati's first Grand Prix World Championship.

When Ducati re-joined MotoGP in 2003, MotoGP had changed its rules to allow four-stroke 990 cc engines to race. At the
time Ducati was the fastest bike. In 2007, MotoGP reduced the engine size to 800 cc, yet Ducati continued to be the fastest
bike. Ducati continued that trend in 2007 with a bike that was markedly faster than its rivals as was displayed by Casey
Stoner on tracks with long straights.

For the 2008, Ducati Marlboro Team will campaign their Desmosedici GP8 with Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri.
Ducati also supplies bikes to Pramac d'Antin which for 2008 has been renamed the Alice Team, who are running the
Desmosedici GP8.

Year Champion Motorcycle
2007 Casey Stoner Ducati Desmosedici GP7

Superbike World Championship (SBK)
For 2008, Ducati will race a homologated version of the 1098R. The FIM, the sanctioning body for the Superbike World
Championship, has raised the displacement limit for two cylinder engines to 1,200 cc. In 2007, Ducati raced their 999F07
which is a homologated racing version of the 999R because maximum displacement for two cylinder engines was limited
to 1,000 cc.

The company has won twelve rider's world championships since the championship's inception in 1988. It has been argued
that Ducati has amassed more wins than any other manufacturer because the rules are deliberately set to favour their
bikes through manufacturer lobbying; this, of course, is a matter of dispute.

Year Champion Motorcycle
1990 Raymond Roche Ducati 851
1991 Doug Polen Ducati 888
1992 Doug Polen Ducati 888
1994 Carl Fogarty Ducati 916
1995 Carl Fogarty Ducati 916
1996 Troy Corser Ducati 916
1998 Carl Fogarty Ducati 916
1999 Carl Fogarty Ducati 996
2001 Troy Bayliss Ducati 996R
2003 Neil Hodgson Ducati 999F03
2004 James Toseland Ducati 999F04
2006 Troy Bayliss Ducati 999F06

Ducati has also won fourteen manufacturer world championships for years 1991–1996, 1998–2004, and 2006.

AMA Superbike Championship
In the AMA Superbike Championship, Ducati has had its share of success, with Doug Polen winning the title in 1993 and
Troy Corser the following year in 1994. Ducati has entered a bike in every AMA Superbike season since 1986, but
withdrew from the series after the 2006 season.

British Superbike Championship
The British Superbike Championship has been won by Ducati riders on seven occasions:

Year Champion
1995 Steve Hislop
1999 Troy Bayliss
2000 Neil Hodgson
2001 John Reynolds
2002 Steve Hislop
2003 Shane Byrne
2005 Gregorio Lavilla

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italian Language

Alphabet
The Italian alphabet (l'alfabeto) contains twenty–one letters:

Letters Names of the Letters
a a
b bi
c ci
d di
e e
f effe
g gi
h acca
i i
l elle
m emme
n enne
o o
p pi
q cu
r erre
s esse
t ti
u u
v vu
z zeta

The following five letters are found in foreign words:

Letters Names of the Letters
j i lungo
k kappa
w doppia vu
x ics
y ipsilon

Vowels
Italian vowels (le vocali) are short, clear–cut, and are never
drawn out. The "glide" with which English vowels frequently
end should be avoided. It should be noted that a, i, u, are
always pronounced the same way; e and o, on the other
hand, have an open and a closed sound that may vary from
one part of Italy to the other.

The approximate English equivalents are as follows:

a is like a in the English word ah!

Italian English
casa house
antipasto appetizer
ama loves
banana banana
sala hall
Papa Pope
fama fame
pasta pasta; dough; pastry

e is sometimes like e in the English word they (without the
final i glide).

Italian English
e and
beve drinks
me me
fede faith
vede sees
mele apples
sete thirst
pepe pepper

e is sometimes like e in the word met. This is the open e.

Italian English
è is
lento slow
bene well
festa party; holiday
sedia chair
presto soon
vento wind
tè tea

i is like i in machine.

Italian English
libri books
bimbi children
vini wines
violini violins
tini vats
pini pines

o is sometimes like o in the English word oh!.

Italian English
o or
dono gift
nome name
solo alone
posto place
tondo round
volo flight
mondo world

o is sometimes like o in or. This is the open o.

Italian English
moda fashion
toga toga
no no
oro gold
posta mail
brodo broth
cosa thing
trono throne
rosa rose
olio oil

u is like u in rule.

Italian English
luna moon
fungo mushroom
uno one
lungo long
fuga fugue
mulo mule
uso use
tubo tube

Consonants
The consonants not listed below (b, f, m, n, v) are
pronounced as in English. The approximate English
equivalents are as follows:

c before a, o, and u is like the English k.

Italian English
casa house
fico fig
con with
Colesseo Colosseum
capo head
Cupido Cupid
cane dog
camera camera
caffè coffee
culla cradle

c before e or i is like the English sound ch in chest.

Italian English
cena supper
voce voice
cibo food
concerto concert
aceto vinegar
cinema cinema
cipolla onion
facile easy

ch (found only before e or i) is like the English k.

Italian English
che that
chimica chemistry
perché because
fichi figs
chilo kilo
chi who
chiuso closed
anche also

d is somewhat more explosive than in English, with the
tongue near the tip of the upper teeth but with no aspiration.

Italian English
di of
data date
dove where
due two
denaro money
dodici twelve
donna woman
lunedì Monday
moda fashion
undici eleven

g before a, o, and u is as in the English word go.

Italian English
gala gala
albergo hotel
gondola gondola
gamba leg
gusto taste
fungo mushroom
gonna skirt
gomma eraser
lungo long
guanti gloves
guidare to drive
lingua tongue

g before e or i is like the g in gem.

Italian English
gelato ice cream
angelo angel
pagina page
gente people
gesso chalk
gentile kind
gita outing
gennaio January

gh (found only before e or i) is like the g in go.

Italian English
ghetto ghetto
funghe escapes
laghi lakes
maghi magicians

gli is approximately like ll in million.

Italian English
egli he
meglio better
figli sons
famiglia family
mogli wives
aglio garlic
fogli sheets (of paper)
bottiglia bottle

gn is approximately like ny in canyon.

Italian English
signora lady
lavagna blackboard
signore gentleman
bagno bath
signorina young lady
sogno dream
lasagne lasagna
spugna sponge

h is silent.

Italian English
ho I have
hotel hotel
ha has
ahi! ouch!
hanno they have

l is as in English, but sharper and more forward in the mouth.

Italian English
olio oil
lingua language
sale salt
lungo long
melone melon
luna moon
scuola school
light light

p is as in English, but without the aspiration that sometimes
accompanies this sound in English.

Italian English
pane bread
patata potato
pepe pepper
papà dad
popone melon
ponte bridge
pipa pipe
punto period
pasto meal
pronuncia pronunciation
Alpi Alps
psicologo psychologist

qu is always pronounced like the English qu in quest.

Italian English
questo this
quinto fifth
quale which
quarto fourth
quanto how much
quantità quantity
quadro picture
qualità quality

r is different from the English r; it is pronounced with one flip
of the tongue against the gums of the upper teeth. This is the
trilled r.

Italian English
ora now
tenore tenor
albergo hotel
baritono baritone
arte art
orologio watch
porta door
sardina sardine

s is sometimes like the English s in house.

Italian English
soggiorno living room
testa head
stanza room
festa party; holiday
posta mail
stufato stew
pasta pasta; dough; pastry
pista track

s is sometimes (but always before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, and v)
like the English s in rose.

Italian English
rosa rose
tesoro treasure
frase phrase
svelto quick
sbaglio mistake
esercizio exercise
musica music
sgridare to scold
susina plum
sbadato careless

sc before a, o, or u is like sk in ask.

Italian English
ascoltare to listen
scuola school
pesca peach
tasca pocket
toscano Tuscan
scaloppine cutlets
scarpa shoe
scultura sculpture
disco disk; record
scopo purpose

sc before e or i is like the English sound sh in fish.

Italian English
finisce finishes
sci ski
pesce fish
conoscere to know
scena scene
scendere to descend
uscita exit
uscio door

sch occurs only before e or i, and is pronounced like the
English sk.

Italian English
pesche peaches
tasche pockets
dischi disks; records
scheletro skeleton
fiaschi flasks
lische fishbones

t is approximately the same as in English, but no escaping
of breath accompanies it in Italian.

Italian English
contento glad
carta paper
arte art
matita pencil
turista tourist
antipasto appetizer
telefono telephone
testa head

z is sometimes voiceless, like ts is bets.

Italian English
pizza pizza
negozio store
marzo March
Venezia Venice
grazie thank you
dizionario dictionary

z is sometimes voiced, like ds in beds.

Italian English
zero zero
zebra zebra
pranzo lunch
zelo zeal
romanzo novel
zanzara mosquito

Note:
When ci, gi, and sci are followed by a, o, or u, unless the
accent falls on the i, the i is not pronounced. The letter i
merely indicates that c, g, and sc are pronounced,
respectively, like the English ch, g (as in gem), and sh.

Italian English
arancia orange
giornale newspaper
ciliegia cherry
ciao so long
salsiccia sausage
camicia shirt
lasciare to leave
scienza science

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italian History

The Fascist Period
Italy was plunged into deep social and political crisis by the war. Veterans, unemployed workers, desperate peasants,
and a frightened middle class demanded changes, and the 1919 elections suddenly made the Socialist and the new
Popular (Catholic) parties the largest in parliament. While extreme nationalists agitated for territorial expansion, strikes
and threats of revolution unsettled the nation.

The Rise of Fascism
In 1919, in the midst of these unsettled conditions, Benito Mussolini, a former revolutionary socialist, founded a new
movement called "Fascismo". Through a combination of shrewd political maneuvering and widespread violence
perpetrated by Mussolini's Black Shirt squads, the Fascists gained increasing support. In October 1922, after the Fascists
had marched on Rome, King Victor Emmanuel III named Mussolini prime minister. Within four years, Mussolini had
become a dictator, destroying civil liberties, outlawing all other political parties, and imposing a totalitarian regime on the
country by means of terror and constitutional subversion. Public works projects, propaganda, militarism, and the
appearance of order gained Mussolini considerable prestige, and the Lateran Treaty with the papacy in 1929 gave the
"duce" (as he was called) a wide measure of popularity.

Fascist Expansionism
Mussolini's foreign policy, based on aggression and expansion, moved Italy closer to war during the 1930s. In 1935-36
the Italian army invaded and conquered Ethiopia, and in 1936, Italy sent troops to support Francisco Franco in the Spanish
Civil War. Later that year Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, the National Socialist dictator of Germany, established the
Rome-Berlin Axis. In 1939, Italy took Albania, and the two dictators then concluded a military alliance known as the Pact
of Steel. In June 1940, nine months after the outbreak of World War II in Europe, Italy entered the conflict on Germany's
side.

World War II
Mussolini's war effort met with setbacks and defeats on all fronts. In July 1943 the Allies invaded Sicily. The Fascist
leadership turned against Mussolini, and the king forced him to resign. Rescued by German paratroopers, Mussolini
escaped to Salo in northern Italy, where he established a puppet government (the Italian Social Republic) under German
protection. In the south, the king and his new prime minister, Pietro Badoglio, surrendered to the Allies in September and
then joined in the war against Germany. A fierce and heroic anti-Fascist resistance movement fought in the
German-occupied north for two years while underground political leaders organized the anti-Fascists into the Committee
of National Liberation (CLN). The Allies pushed the German armies out of Italy with great difficulty, and in April 1945 the
partisans captured and executed Mussolini.

Postwar Italy
Between 1945 and 1948 a new Italian nation emerged from the disaster of Fascism and war. On June 2nd, 1946 a popular
election abolished the monarchy in favor of a republic; a new constitution was adopted the next year. The Christian
Democrats, the Communists, and the Socialists became the leading political parties in the country. The largest of these
parties, the Christian Democrats, first under the leadership of Alcide De Gasperi, dominated the Italian government after
1948. De Gasperi stressed industrial growth, agricultural reform, and close cooperation with the United States and the
Vatican. With massive U.S. aid, Italy underwent a remarkable economic recovery that saw rapid industrial expansion and
a sharp increase in the standard of living. Italy joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949, the European Coal
and Steel Community in 1951, and the European Common Market (European Community) in 1958.

The 1960s were marked by continued prosperity and a lessening of tensions between right and left. In the early 1970s the
Italian Communists, led by Enrico Berlinguer, became prominent advocates of Euro communism, a doctrine stressing
independence of the USSR.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s labor unrest, frequent government scandals, and the violence of extremist groups
(especially the left-wing Red Brigades terrorists, who kidnapped and murdered former premier Aldo Moro in 1978), all
contributed to a volatile political situation.

The postwar system was modified somewhat under the long premiership (1983-87) of Socialist Bettino Craxi and was
shaken to its foundations by revelations of widespread corruption involving leaders of all the major parties during
1992-93. New regional parties began to win support among the voters, who demanded fundamental political reforms. At
the same time the government and the judiciary initiated a determined effort to break the power of the Mafia and other
traditional criminal elements in southern Italy and Sicily. In the spring of 1994, Italian voters rejected the traditional
parties. Media mogul Silvio Berlusconi became premier, leading a fragile conservative coalition called the Alliance for
Freedom.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italian Latest News

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Famous Italians

Donatello

Donatello's statue outside of the Uffizi Galleria.

Birth Name: Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi
Born: c. 1386
Florence, Italy
Died: 13 December 1466
Florence, Italy
Nationality: Florentine, Italian
Field: Sculpture
Training: Lorenzo Ghiberti
Movement: Early Renaissance
Works: St. George, St. Mark, David (in bronze)

Donatello (Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi; c. 1386 – December 13, 1466) was a famous early Renaissance Italian artist
and sculptor from Florence. He is, in part, known for his work in basso rilievo, a form of shallow relief sculpture that, in
Donatello's case, incorporated significant 15th-century developments in perspectival illusionism.

Early Years
Donatello was the son of Niccolo di Betto Bardi, who was a member of the Florentine Wool Combers Guild, and was born
in Florence, most likely in 1386. Donatello was educated in the house of the Martelli family. He apparently received his
early artistic training in a goldsmith's workshop, and then worked briefly in the studio of Lorenzo Ghiberti.

While undertaking study and excavations with Filippo Brunelleschi in Rome (1404-1407), work that gained the two men the
reputation of treasure seekers, Donatello made a living by working at goldsmiths' shops. Their Roman sojourn was
decisive for the entire development of Italian art in the 15th century, for it was during this period that Brunelleschi
undertook his measurements of the Pantheon dome and of other Roman buildings. Brunelleschi's buildings and Donatello's
sculptures are both considered supreme expressions of the spirit of this era in architecture and sculpture, and they
exercised a potent influence upon the painters of the age.

Work in Florence

Tomb of Antipope John XXIII in Florence's Baptistery.

In Florence, Donatello assisted Lorenzo Ghiberti with the statues of prophets for the north door of the Battistero di San
Giovanni, for which he received payment in November 1406 and early 1408. In 1409-1411 he executed the colossal
seated figure of Saint John the Evangelist, which until 1588 occupied a niche of the old cathedral facade, and is now
placed in a dark chapel of the Duomo. This work marks a decisive step forward from late-Gothic Mannerism in the search
for naturalism and the rendering of human feelings. The face, the shoulders and the bust are still idealized, while the hands
and the pannings over the legs are more realistic.

Statue of Habacuc (popularly known as Zuccone) for the Giotto's Bell Tower.
It is now in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo of Florence.

In 1411-1413 Donatello worked on a statue of St. Mark for the church of Orsanmichele. In 1417 he completed the St.
George for the Confraternity of the Cuirass-makers. The elegant St. George and the Dragon relief on the statue's base,
executed in schiacciato (also known as bas-relief or basso rilievo) is one of the first examples of central-point
perspective in sculpture.

From 1423 is the St. Louis of Toulouse, now in the Museum of the Basilica di Santa Croce. Donatello had also sculpted a
tabernacle for this work, but it was sold in 1460 to house the Incredulity of St. Thomas by Verrocchio.

Between 1415 and 1426, Donatello created five statues for the campanile of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, also known
as the Duomo. These works are the Beardless Prophet; Bearded Prophet (both from 1415); the Sacrifice of Isaac (1421);
Habbakuk (1423-1425); and Jeremiah (1423-1426); which follow the classical models for orators and are characterized by
strong portrait details. From the late teens is the Pazzi Madonna relief in Berlin. In 1425, he executed the notable Crucifix
for Santa Croce; this work portrays Christ in a moment of the agony, eyes and mouth partially opened, the body contracted
in an ungraceful posture.

Between 1425-1427, Donatello collaborated with Michelozzo on the funerary monument of the Antipope John XXIII for the
Battistero in Florence. Surely by Donatello is the recumbent bronze figure of the deceased, under a shell. In 1427, he
completed in Pisa a marble panel for the funerary monument of Cardinal Rainaldo Brancacci at the church of Sant'Angelo a
Nilo in Naples. In the same period, he executed the relief of the Feast of Herod and the statues of Faith and Hope for the
Baptistery of Siena. The relief is mostly in stiacciato, while the foreground figures are done in bas-relief.

Major Commissions in Florence

Statue of St. George in Orsanmichele, Florence.

Around 1430, Cosimo de' Medici, the foremost art patron of his era, commissioned from Donatello the bronze David (now in
the Bargello) for the court of his Palazzo Medici. This is now Donatello's most famous work. At the time of its creation, it
was the first known free-standing nude statue produced since ancient times. Conceived fully in the round, independent of
any architectural surroundings, and largely representing an allegory of the civic virtues triumphing over brutality and
irrationality, it was the first major work of Renaissance sculpture. Also from this period is the disquietingly small Love-
Atys, housed in the Bargello.

When Cosimo was exiled from Florence, Donatello went to Rome, remaining until 1433. The two works that testify to his
presence in this city, the Tomb of Giovanni Crivelli at Santa Maria in Aracoeli, and the Ciborium at St. Peter's Basilica,
bear a strong stamp of classical influence.

Donatello's return to Florence almost coincided with Cosimo's. In May of 1434, he signed a contract for the marble pulpit
on the facade of Prato cathedral, the last project executed in collaboration with Michelozzo. This work, a passionate,
pagan, rhythmically-conceived bacchanalian dance of half-nude putti, was the forerunner of the great Cantoria, or singing
tribune, at the Duomo in Florence on which Donatello worked intermittently from 1433 to 1440 and was inspired by ancient
sarcophagi and Byzantine ivory chests. In 1435, he executed the Annunciation for the Cavalcanti altar in Santa Croce,
inspired by 14th century iconography, and in 1437-1443, he worked in the Old Sacristy of the San Lorenzo in Florence, on
two doors and lunettes portraying saints, as well as eight stucco tondoes. From 1438 is the wooden statue of St. John the
Evangelist for Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice. Around 1440, he executed a bust of a Young Man with a Cameo
now in the Bargello, the first example of a lay bust portrait since the classical era.

Donatello did not marry, choosing instead to live with other artists and his many young workshop assistants. According to
some historians, Donatello made no secret of his homosexuality, and his behaviour was tolerated by his friends; certainly
Cosimo is known to have played a part in patching up at least one lover's quarrel between Donatello and one of his young
assistants. Frequently his violent outbursts would result from passionate entaglements - when one of his assistants ran
away, Donatello is said to have chased him as far as Ferrara with the intention of killing him. However, little detail is
known with certainty about his private life. No accusation against him has been found in the Florentine archives, which
albeit during his lifetime are very incomplete. Donatello's bronze life-sized David that he produced for Cosimo was one of
the most overtly homosexual works of its era. Its' sensuous nudity emphasised by the young David's calf-length
ornamented leather boots, and curly tresses.

In Padua

Donatello's equestrian monument of Gattamelata at Padua.

In 1443, Donatello was called to Padua by the heirs of the famous condottiero Erasmo da Narni, who had died that year.
Completed in 1450 and placed in the square facing the Basilica of St. Anthony, his equestrian statue of Erasmo (better
known as the Gattamelata, or "Honey-Cat") was the first example of such a monument since ancient times. (Other
equestrian statues, from the 14th century, had not been executed in bronze and had been placed over tombs rather than
erected indepedently, in a public place.) This work became the prototype for other equestrian monuments executed in Italy
and Europe in the following centuries.

For the Basilica of St. Anthony, Donatello created, most famously, the bronze Crucifix of 1444-7 and additional statues for
the choir, including a Madonna with Child and six saints, constituting a Holy Conversation, which is no longer visible
since the renovation by Camillo Boito in 1895. The Madonna with Child portrays the Child being displayed to the faithful, on
a throne flanked by two sphinxes, allegorical figures of knowledge. On the throne's back is a relief of Adam and Eve.
During this period -- 1446-50 -- Donatello also executed four extremely important reliefs with scenes from the life of St.
Anthony for the high altar.

Last Years in Florence

Statue of St. John the Baptist in the Duomo di Siena.

Donatello returned to Florence in 1453.

Until 1456, he worked on a wooden Mary Magdalene now in the Duomo's museum, an unusually expressionistic work
depicting the saint in her late, hermetic period and characterized by meagerness of body and a face marked by fatigue,
pain, and intense asceticism. From 1455-1460, dates the Judith and Holofernes, begun for the Duomo di Siena but later
acquired by the Medici.

Until 1461, Donatello remained in Siena, where he created a St. John the Baptist, also for the Duomo, and models for its
gates, now lost.

For his last commission in Florence, Donatello produced reliefs for the bronze pulpits in the church of San Lorenzo, with
help from students Bartolomeo Bellano and Bertoldo di Giovanni. Donatello provided the general design and personally
executed the Martyrdom of St. Lawrence and the Deposition from the Cross; he worked on the reliefs of Christ before Pilate
and Christ before Caiphus, with Bellano. This work is characterized by an intense, free, indeed sketchy and suggestively
unfinished -- in Italian a non-finito -- technique that heightens the dramatic effect of the scenes and emphasizes their
spiritual intensity.

Donatello died in Florence in 1466 and was buried in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, next to Cosimo de' Medici the Elder.

Main Works
St. Mark (1411–1413) Orsanmichele, Florence
St. George Tabernacle (c. 1415–1417) - Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
Prophet Habacuc (1423–1425) - Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence
The Feast of Herod (c. 1425) - Baptismal font, Duomo di Siena
David (c. 1425–1430) - Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
Equestrian Monument of Gattamelata (1445–1450) - Piazza del Santo, Padua
Mary Magdalene (c. 1455) - Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence (photograph)
Judith and Holofernes (1455-1460) - Palazzo Vecchio, Florence

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CIAO! Hello Dear Friends of ITALY!

Enjoy This Issue of ITALIAN NEWS, Periodical On-Line that Promotes, Supports, Spreads ITALY,
and ITALIAN Language, History, Culture, Tradition, Genealogy, Articles, Products, Services, with Very Useful
Information to Make you MORE and MORE Familiar with Every Aspect of ITALIAN Life Style!

Learn MORE and MORE about ITALY, and ITALIAN Language, History, Culture, Tradition, Genealogy, Articles,
Products, Services, Every Aspect of ITALIAN Life Style, by Collecting All The Issues of ITALIAN NEWS!

All your Comments, Opinions, Suggestions, and Ideas to Improve ITALIAN NEWS are Most Welcome!

Many Thanks! Best Regards!

Your ITALIAN Friends,

Carlo Tognoni, founder, and Davide Tognoni, administrator
THE ITALIAN PROJECT www.theitalianproject.com

ITALIAN LANGUAGE: Lessons of Italian Grammar, Spelling, and Usage: Alphabet -
Vowels - Consonants
ITALIAN GENEALOGY: How to Find Places of your Ancestors and Living Relatives in
Italy
ITALIAN REGIONS: Campania
ITALIAN PROVINCES: Napoli - Avellino - Benevento - Caserta - Salerno
ITALIAN RECIPES: Easy Baked Ravioli - Tortellini with Garlic Sage Butter Sauce
ITALIAN HISTORY: The Fascist Period - The Rise of Fascism - Fascist Expansionism -
World War II - Postwar Italy
FAMOUS ITALIANS: Donatello
ITALIAN COMPANIES: Ducati
ITALIAN PRODUCTS: Ravioli
ITALIAN LATEST NEWS: Life in Italy

In This Issue:

Issue # 6, June 2008

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italian Recipes

Easy Baked Ravioli

Ingredients
2 teaspoons Italian Dressing
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 (15 ounce) package Marinara Sauce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
1 (9 ounce) package Four Cheese Ravioli, cooked, drained
1/2 cup Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella
Cheese

Cooking Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat dressing in large
skillet on medium heat; add peppers and onions. Cook and
stir 2 min. or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in
marinara sauce and crushed red pepper.
Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce mixture onto bottom of shallow
11x7-inch baking dish. Cover with layers of half each of the
ravioli, remaining sauce mixture and cheese. Repeat
layers. Cover with foil.
Bake 25 min. or until heated through.
Yield: 4 servings

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|